Nov 25, 2014

WISCONSIN GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER MONTAGE WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS. 

Hi, Scott Walker here.

In this week's radio address, I want to talk about the positive path ahead of us as we continue our work together to build a better Wisconsin not only for today, but for the next generation.

We hit some major milestones during our first term.  With our reforms - schools and local governments have saved more than $3 billion.  We turned a $3.6 billion budget deficit into a surplus.  And we lowered the tax burden in the state by more than $2 billion.

Now, we're busy working on the next state budget.  Because of our prudent management of your dollars – the taxpayers' dollars, we can make progress investing in our priorities.

That means we’ll continue our work to create more good-paying, family-supporting jobs.

We’ll ensure people have the opportunity to learn the skills that they need to get those high-demand, high-paying jobs.

We’ll help people move from government dependence to true independence through work.

And we will build on the progress we’ve made in lowering the tax burden, so the hard-working taxpayers of this state get to keep more of your hard-earned money.

As we honor the brave men and women who serve our country this week, we are also working to make sure that they get the opportunities that they richly deserve.

This week, we launched WiscJobsforVets.wi.gov aimed at connecting veterans with employment opportunities at state agencies.  Veterans have a proven work ethic and unique skills, so we are going to set an example, offering opportunities at the state level, and encouraging employers across the state to do the same.

I’m proud of all we have accomplished and excited about the great things yet to come.

We are working together to move Wisconsin forward, and we won't stop until EVERYONE has the opportunity to achieve their piece of the American dream – until everyone who wants a job can find a job.

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The state partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute a brief radio address once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and www.walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-addresses. To download an mp3 file, you can right click the radio address link and click “Save Link As.”

- See more at: http://walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-address/working-together-move-wisconsin-forward-and-connecting-vets-jobs#sthash.CH8CimWR.dpuf

 

Hi, this is Scott Walker. 

We have some more good news for Wisconsin workers.  This week I signed a Special Session Assembly Bill, increasing funding for the Wisconsin Fast Forward program by $35.4 million.  Job creators across the state tell me they have jobs available – what they need are skilled workers to fill them.

With this latest investment, we will work to eliminate technical college waiting lists for high demand fields – including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and Information Technology.

We’ll also help high school students get training in high demand jobs through dual enrollment programs between our high schools and technical colleges.  And we’ll invest in programs that help people with disabilities enter the workforce.  All of this is in addition to the more than $100 million investment in worker training we included in the last state budget.

According to the federal government's Bureau of Labor Statistics report on Monday, as of this January, Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation in new manufacturing jobs, year over year.

Wisconsin is going back to work – and we’ll keep our upward trend going, by improving the business climate and investing in the motivated, dependable workforce we are known for.

I want to thank members of the state Legislature for working together across party lines to pass this $35.4 million investment for Wisconsin’s workers. 

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The state partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute a brief radio address once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and www.walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-addresses. To download an mp3 file, you can right click the radio address link and click “Save Link As.”

- See more at: http://walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-address/investing-wisconsin%E2%80%99s-workers#sthash.j9ybe2qD.dpuf

 

Hi, this is Scott Walker. 

Two months ago, I laid out a Blueprint for Prosperity to move Wisconsin further down the road to greater prosperity.  The facts show our historic reforms are working, and our state is in much better financial and economic shape than it was just four years ago. 

Gone are the days of billion dollar budget deficits, record job loss, and tax hikes.  Today, we have a $911 million surplus, and we’ve helped the private sector create more than 100,000 jobs and 15,000 net new businesses, and we’re delivering significant property and income tax relief for middle class families, farmers, and seniors.

The hardworking taxpayers of Wisconsin know how to spend their money better than politicians in Madison do; and I thank members of the State Senate for helping us this week return the state’s surplus to the people who earned it.

Once our Blueprint for Prosperity is signed into law, we will have delivered $2 billion in much-needed tax relief for the people of Wisconsin and more than $135 million for worker training programs.  Under our plan, a typical homeowner will pay about $100 less in property taxes this December and the levy will be lower in 2014 than it was in 2010.  And by changing withholding, a typical working family will see $522 more in their paychecks this year.  That's real money.  Additionally, we are increasing funding to the Wisconsin Fast Forward program by $35 million to focus on investments in technical colleges to eliminate waiting lists for high demand fields including manufacturing, agriculture, and Information Technology; we’re helping high school students get training in high demand jobs through dual enrollment programs between our high schools and technical colleges.

I look forward to the Assembly’s vote and signing this property and income tax relief into law.

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The state partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute a brief radio address once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and www.walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-addresses. To download an mp3 file, you can right click the radio address link and click “Save Link As.”

- See more at: http://walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-address/moving-forward-our-blueprint-prosperity#sthash.60vInLyi.dpuf

 

Hi, this is Scott Walker.

Three years ago, when I delivered my first State of the State address, Wisconsin’s fiscal house was a mess.  We were facing a $3.6 billion budget deficit, we owed millions to Minnesota from the tax reciprocity agreement, and we owed $233 million payment for past raids to the Patient Compensation fund.

Since then, we made tough, but prudent, decisions in order to put Wisconsin back on the road to prosperity.  We enacted real, lasting reforms and we’ve worked tirelessly, to not only return to pre-recession economic levels, but catapult the state to even better growth.

Today, we have balanced the budget and given job creators the confidence they need to hire and invest in Wisconsin.  Unemployment insurance claims are at a 13-year low, and nearly 13,000 new businesses have been created since I took office.  We ended the last fiscal year with a $760 million surplus and revenue collections are up 8.4 percent for this fiscal year.

We made three consecutive deposits into the rainy day fund – and that’s the first time that’s happened in our state’s history.  With the opportunity to really do great things, we have put in place nearly $1.5 billion dollars in tax relief for hard-working taxpayers, seniors, property owners, veterans, and job creators.

We are not done yet, and we’ll continue to work to improve the economy, until everyone that wants a job, has a job.  The talent and skills of Wisconsinites is well recognized, and we need to ensure our workers have the training they need to fill the jobs available today. 

Next week, I will lay out a pathway to prosperity for our state.  I look forward to talking more about where we are – and – where we’re going.  Our tough, but prudent, decisions mean we’re now able to invest in our priorities and truly move our state towards greater economic growth and success.

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The state partnered with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to produce and distribute a brief radio address once a week. Audio files and a written transcript of this radio address can be accessed on http://www.wi-broadcasters.org and www.walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-addresses. To download an mp3 file, you can right click the radio address link and click “Save Link As.”

- See more at: http://walker.wi.gov/media/weekly-radio-address/progress-wisconsin#sthash.Evp3cOgU.dpuf